@ancient.frontier: He conquered kingdoms for Rome. Now, in this painting, one of history's greatest generals is begging for a coin. 🏛️💔 Belisarius Begging for Alms (1781), painted by Jacques-Louis David, portrays a heartbreaking legend about Belisarius, one of the greatest military commanders of the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire. Serving under Emperor Justinian I, Belisarius achieved extraordinary victories against the Vandals in North Africa and the Ostrogoths in Italy, helping restore Roman control over territories once belonging to the Western Roman Empire. Yet the painting tells a very different story. According to a later legend, the once-celebrated general lost his sight and was reduced to begging. A woman offers him charity, while a passing soldier recognizes the commander he once admired. The tragedy is that the man who once commanded Roman armies is now dependent on the kindness of strangers. Although historians do not consider the story of his blindness and begging historically established, it became a powerful symbol of betrayal, forgotten glory and the fragility of power. From Belisarius, Justinian the Great and Constantinople to the Byzantine Empire, Roman history, Medieval History and Neoclassical art, this masterpiece reminds us that even the greatest heroes can be forgotten. He once fought to restore the glory of Rome. Now, in the legend, Rome barely remembers his name. ⚔️⏳ #romanempire #byzantineempire #ancientgreece #fy #painting

oremaster :

Belisarius and Han Xin are a warning to never outshine the master

^°Tuaizo :

He was the real Last Roman General, and yet Justinian's paranoid mind led him to this

philip Augustus :

every legendary man always betrayed by there own people.Hannibal, scipio, ceaser,belisarias.... because there success alarm there own people

🪖Kejn🇷🇸 :

Saved the entire Empire just to be betrayed

Razenostøne :

'Eyo nahh. Bro fell off'[Crying]

СоХаИл :

Is it true 😳😭 as a Muslim I love belisarius

𝕀𝕤𝕞𝕒𝕚𝕝 :

This story is a myth btw. When justinian nearly died from plague, theodora did strip him of wealth/titles because he would have been supported heavily to become emperor, and he was loyal to justinian and if he was dead , he may have been tempted to take the throne. However once Justinian recovered, his titles/wealth were returned.

Nick :

this painting is a myth and doesn't tell what actually happened however it's still sad to see one of the greatest generals get punished for his greatness 😔

cyber_molfar :

stalkervol :

myth paintinh. Belisariud was never blinded. Thid myth actually comes from the painting

P :

being a successful general was always dangerous , Belisarius , surena , bahram chobin

Mhel Kris :

he is in the game 😭😭

Stavros_AC :

Y'all know that this is a myth, right?

Baloo :

I can relate to this tragedy because in my country there have been a few Olympians who brought glory for their country. Decades later they are found in the city centre begging for money because their country didn't take care of them.

Omar Faraj :

This one is not true. It’s a popular medieval myth. What happened was that Belisarius was accused of being part of a a plot against the emperor (which historians say was probably a farce), and was placed under house arrest. He did however soon receive an imperial pardon, and his wealth and status were given back to him

𝕿𝖔𝖒𝖙𝖎 :

The blinding story is a myth but people still believed it which tells alot about Justinian.

Mahmoud Mohamed :

It's actually a myth.we don't know that for sure.

brahlando :

this is just sad 😔

Chafa Art Z :

That's a myth

101% 🇦🇱🦅 :

It wasn’t this tough 🙏💀he was in house arrest for only year

Julio :

Cinema

🇫🇷✞ | Alexandre | ✞🇫🇷 :

Justinian didn’t blind him

URANIUM 234 :

the soldier and me

Patrik_Patrik33 :

It’s all a legend !!!!!!!!

random_srb :

Can i ask who is this child